Electrical stop-motion.



` 110.781,2'87. K Y PATENTED JAN. s1, 1905.

y O O. LEE.

ELBOTRIOAL STOP MOTION.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 28,1902.

v No. 781,287. 'y .t PATBNTED JAN. 31,1905.

' U.' GfLBE.

w ELECTRICAL' siTo'P MOTION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28,1902.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. UNITED STATES ,Patenteu January 31, 1 905.

'PATENT OFFICE.

ULYSSES G. LEE, OF MADISON," OHIO, ASSIGNOR yTO GEORGE D. WHITCOMB COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL sToP-MoTloN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 781,287, dated January 31, 1905.

Application filed February .28, 1902. Serial No. 96,111.

have invented certain new and useful Im-. provements in Electrical Stop-Motions, of

- which the following is a specification and which are illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, forming a part thereof.

This 1nvent1on relates to an electrlcally-con- -trolled stop-motion for knitting, spinning,

presence of a knot therein will effect the im-l mediate stopping of the machine.

The invention consists of the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter particularly described, and designated in the appended claims, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings', in which- Figure 1 illustrates the complete mechanism, comprising the clutch, electrical circuit, and circuit-closers in connection with a knitting-machine, the outline of the latter being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the standard upon which are mounted the means controlled by the thread and designed to close-the electric circuit, so as to release the clutch coupling the driving-pulley with the driving-shaft of the machine. Fig. 3 is a diametrical section, on an enlarged scale, through the driving-pulley, the clutch, and the brake-sleeve and showing the disposition of the electromagnet through the medium of which the clutch is released. Fig. 4 relates to a detail of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail of the electromagnet seen in Fig. 3 and its armature. Fig. 6 is a section on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. `7 is a face View of the combined clutch and brake. Fig. 8 is a section on the line Y Y of Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a detail of the yoke for actuating the clutch' and brake-shoes.

In the drawings I have shownthe invention applied to a knitting-machine 10, the outline ofv the end of the latter being'indicated by dotted lines and the usual thread or yarn carrier by 11, although it will be understood that it is applicable to any other machine in which athread or yarn is used in connection therewith, such as winding, spinning, spooling machines, tc.l The driving-shaft 12, connected up with the operating parts for actuating the thread-carrier, cam, needles, cc., has mounted thereon at one end a loose driving-pulley 13, to which power. is transmitted for operating the machine and which is coupled to the shaft 12 by a clutch 14, so arranged as to rotate with the 00 shaft, but being capable of longitudinal movement relativelythereto. The clutch mechanism is provided with means which when the clutch is thrown out of action engage a braking sleeve or surface inorder to arrest the motion of the machine whenv necessary. 'Io this end the'pulley 13,?as shown'in Fig. 3, is provided with an inner annular flange 15, and Y secured to andprojecting outwardly from the frame of the machine is a similar flange or sleeve 16, which registers with the ange of the pulley. Located in the space between the flanges 15 and16 and keyed to the shaft 12, so as to turn therewith, is a sleeve or hub 17, from the opposite sides of which project spokes or arms 18, the outer end of each of which is provided with a pair of parallel sectional rims or shoes 19 and 20, curved so .as to conform generally to the inner faces of the iianges 15 and 16. The shoes 19 and 20 are 8O preferably made integral with the spokes 1-8, and each pair thereof extends from the side of its spoke 18 opposite tothe side from which the other pair of shoes extends from the other spoke.. e

Sliding on the hub 17 of the clutch and provided with slots 21 to receive the spokes 18 is a sleeve 22, having rounded bosses 28, adapted to engage the inner ends of thelevers 24, one of which is pivoted near or at the free 9G end of each of the shoes 19, and similar levers 24?, similarly located with reference to the shoes 20, the outer ends of the levers bearing against the spokes 18, so that when the i inner ends thereof are moved outwardly the'95 shoes will be expanded, the shoes being'sufficiently elastic to permit of suchexpansion.

Pivoted at 25 back of the sleeve 16 is a yoke 26, provided with inwardly-extending pins 27, engaging an annular recess 28 in the sleeve 22. A sliding clutch-operating bar 29 is supported by a bracket 30, secured to the frame of the machine, and is forced normally outward by a spring 31, connected to the bracket near its free end and to the bar 29 at some point between the point of attachment to the bracket and the inner end thereof, so as to separate the clutch when released. The function of the bar 29 is to throw the clutch into engagement with the driving-pulley 13, the uncoupling of the same being accomplished in a manner to be hereinafter explained.

67 indicates an electromagnet, in the present instance disposed above the brake-sleeve 16 and the armature 68 of which is pivoted at 69 to a support 7 0, the pivoted end ot' the armature serving as a detent which when the electromagnet is deenergized projects into the path of the upper end otl a lever 71, pivoted to a lug 72, projecting from the brake-sleeve 16, Fig. 3. The lower end et' the lever 71 is normally in the path of a detent 73, pivoted at 74 at the upper end of the yoke 26, the said detent being held upwardly by an expansion-spring 75, seated in a cup 76 in the said yoke.

Secured to and insulated from the lng 72 ot' the brake-sleeve and projecting so as to have electrical contact with the bar 29 when the latter is pushed inwardly is a spring-plate 77, (see Fig. 1,) from the inner end of which a wire 78 leads to one of the coils of the electromagnet.

Secured by a clamp to the frame of the machine 10 is a standard 32, carrying at its lower end a plate 33, having one or more bobbinpins 34. The upper end of the standard 32 is provided with a pair of arms 35, only one of which need be described, as they are in all respects the same. Such arm has a recess 36, in which is located a spring-finger 37, the inner end of which is coiled about and secured to a pin 38, set in the said recess, the outer end of the finger extending through a horizontal slot 39 and projecting beyond the end of the arm 35. The inger 37 may be provided with a contacting piece 40, although it is not essential, in order to insure a good con- 'nection with a binding-post 41, insulated from the arm 35, and a cover or cap 42 may be provided for the recess 36. Located at the side of the arm opposite to the side at which the binding-post 41 is secured is a bracket 43, in which is clamped a spool 44, provided with a tubular extension 45, extending parallel with the arm 35. Passing through the spool 44 and its tubular extension 45 is a spindle 46, the inner end 47 of which is bent at an angle so as to engage a stop 48, fixed in the bracket 43. The outer end of the spindle 46 is provided with a substantially V-shaped threadguide 49, one leg, as 50, of which extends substantially horizontally and is turned upwardly at its outer end. A spiral spring 51 is coiled about the extension 45 otl the spool A44, one ot' its ends being anchored tothe spool and the other to the V-shaped thread-guide 49, and the tension ot' this spring may be adjusted by turning the spool 44 in the bracket 43, within which it is frictionally held. The syn-ing 51 tends to throw the V-shaped threadguide 49 upwardly and the bent end 47 of the spindle against the stop 48. Projecting from the under side of the arm 35 is a linger 52, which is arranged parallel to and below the spindle 46, so that the spring-linger 37 may oseillate between them.

Secured to the standard '32 between its ends is a bracket 53, at the outer end of which depends the usual thread-holder 54` which is designed to prevent the yarn or thread from slackening when the tension on the cord is removed by the movement of the thread or yarn carrier 11.

Seated in a sleeve 55, Fig. 6, projecting from fthe bracket 53, is a spindle 56. A spring 57 L\is coiled about the said spindle, one of its ends being anchored thereto, the other end projecting, as an arm 58, beyond the end ot' the bracket 50 and being provided with a loop 59, through which the thread passes. 'lhe spindle 56 is frictionally held by a nut 60 and provided with a thumb-nut 61, by which it may be turned to vary the tension et the spring. lhen the machine is in operation, the arm 58 is bentdownwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, against the tension ol the spring 57; but upon the breakage ot the thread the unwinding ol the spring causes the arm 55 to be thrown up, so as to make contact with a binding-post 63, which is carried by and insulated from the bracket 53.

One branch 8O of the circuit is led through the tubularstandard 32 to the binding-post 41, the other passing through the coils ot' the electromagnet to the contact-piece 77. When the machine is in operation, the latter branch of the circuit is grounded in its frame through the arm 29, the former being broken at the binding-post 41. Upon contacto'l the springarm 37 with this binding-post the circuit is completed through the machine and the electromagnet is energized. A branch wire, as 81, leads to the binding-post 63, so that when the spring-arm 58 engages therewith thc circuit is closed through the spring-arm to the machine. Another wire, 82, passes to the binding-post 83 of the arm 35 at the top of the standard 32 to put into electrical connection the mechanism located therein, the parts being the same in both arms, as has heretofore been stated.

A thread-gage or knot-detector is shown at 64 and comprises a bar provided with apertures 65 otl different sizes and supported by an arm 66, secured to the standard 32. Ylhis threadgage, through the medium of the thread which passes through one of the aper- IOO TIO

64, depending upon the size of the yarn, and

with the gage the tension due to the feedingv of the thread to the needles of the machine willcause it to slide off the guide'49 and release the Jringer 52, so that the latter will close the circuit through the binding-post 41.

The thread feeding` from one of the bobbins, as 84, passes through one of the apertures 65 of the thread-gage or knot-detector thence in front of the linger 52 and back of the spring contact-wire 37, then over the leg 50 of the thread-guide 49, and back behind the wire 37 again and down in front of the linger 52, the tension on the thread holding the spring 37 out of engagement with the binding-post 41. The thread is then led under a hook or guide 90 through the eye of the thread-holder 54, then through the eye 59, the spring-arm 58 being bent downwardly and the contact with the binding-post 63 broken, and is thence led to the thread or yarn carrier, from which it is fed to the needles of the machine. A y

The operation of the stop-motion is as follows: Assuming that there is a knot in the yarn of lsuch size as not to pass through the aperture of the knot-detector, the tension on the yarn will immediately overcome the resistance of the spring 51 and the thread-guide will turn, permitting the` thread to slip 01T the arm 50, thereby releasing the spring 37, which then closes the circuit through the bindingpostl 41. The circuit now being closed, the electromagnet is energized, thereby attracting the armature 68 and releasing the lever 71, whereupon the spring 3l, overcoming the resistance of the spring 85, draws the bar 29 outwardly, thereby moving the bosses 23 out n of engagement with the arms of the levers 24 and permitting the shoes 19 to contract and move out of engagement with the drivingpulley, the bosses then coming in contactwith the levers 24, forcing the brake-shoes 20 into engagement with the brake-sleeve 16, so as to eiectually brake the shaft 12 and instantly stop its rotation. The same result will follow in case the thread between the bobbin and the holder 54 breaks, the contact-arm 37 being thereby released, and also in case a break occurs in the thread after it leaves the holder 54, in the latter case the circuit being closed by contact oi' the released spring-arm 58 with the binding-post 63. As soon as the sliding bar 29, to which the clutch-operating mechanism is connected, is released by the closing of the circuit connection between it and the spring 77 is broken and the circuit thereby opened again and the battery thrown out of action. This is designed to prevent wasting of the battery'durin'g the time that either contact-arm 37 or 58 is in contact with its companion'binding-post. In order to start 65 the machine again, it is only necessary to shove in the sliding bar 29, the' brake-shoes 20 being l thereby released and the clutch-shoes forced outwardly, so as to couple the shaft 12 and driving-pulley 13, the parts being held in such relation by the engagement again ol' the detent 73 with the lever 71. A spring 86 is provided for lifting the armature 68 when the electromagnet is denergized, as is usual with such devices.

To permit of the machine being stopped at will, push-buttons 87 are provided at convenient points on the machine, connection being made with the conductor l8() by a branch wire 88 and another wire, as 89, which is grounded in the frame in the machine, or a separate cirp cuit may be provided, if desired. The operation of the mechanism in connection with the push-button is in all respects the same as that heretofore described with reference to the contacting devices governed by the thread.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a stop-motion for knitting and like machines, in combination, an'electric circuit, a

` thread-controlled circuit-controller in said circuit, a bracket, an oscillatable 'spindle mounted in the bracket, a thread-guide ii'Xed to the spindle and guiding the thread across the path of the circuit-controller, a springcoiled about the spindle and having its ends anchored to the bracket and the guide, and a knot-detector located between the source of yarn-supply and the guide.

2. In a stop-motion forknitting and like machines, in combination, an electric circuit, a normally open circuit-controller in said circuit consisting of an oscillatable spring-arm, a yieldable thread-guide located onV one side of the path of the controller, a rigid guide-arm located on the opposite vside of such path, a

knot-detector located between the source-of yarn-supply and. the threadguide. and a thread-guide, leading the thread from the yieldable guide across the path of the controller and past the .fixed guide-arm.

3. In a stop-motion for'knitting and like macl1ines,kin combination, an electric circuit, a circuit-controller in said circuit consistingof an oscillating spring-arm, a bracket, an oscillatable spindle mounted in the bracket, a V- shaped thread-guide fixed to the stem and located beyond the circuit-controller, a spring lcoiled about the spindle and having its ends anchored to the bracket and the guide, a stopA for maintaining the guide in operative position, a rigid arm parallel with the spindle and located at the opposite side of the path of the IIO circuit-controller, the said rigid arm and thread-guide being designed to guide the yarn across the path of the lcircuit-breaker, and a knot-detector positioned between the source of yarn-'supply and the thread-guide.

4. In an electrically-controlled stop-motion for knitting and like machines,in combination, the thread-tension, and means controlled by i an electrlc circuit, a s prlng ,Girault-closer, a the electric circuit for stopping the machine. /Jf thread-gage interposed between the source of yarn-supply and the circuit-closer, a spring- ULYbSES G' LLB' 5 supported thread-guide so located as to guide Witnesses:

the thread across the path of the circuit-closer, W. O. DRAKE,

the spring of the guide acting in opposition to A. W. REED. 

